By now, you would have undoubtedly heard of the idyllic paradise island known as Boracay? And if you haven’t, then you’re certainly in for a treat.
Boracay Island — Mystical Island Destination Off The Coast Of The Philippines
As the highly acclaimed flagship island of the Philippines, it comes as no surprise that Boracay welcomes plenty of visitors daily. But it is this scenario that has caused much of its deterioration in recent years.
More particularly, the island received an explosive influx of tourists, beach lovers, and ocean aficionados since the early 70s. The number of daily tourists was so high that the Philippine government had to shut down the island for six whole months back in April 2018 to address some issues — specifically sewage problems — that had plagued the island for quite some time.
The island was finally reopened later that year in October and Boracay welcomed back the first wave of tourists to its sandy shores with much fanfare. Today, the ocean oasis off the coast of Panay Island is regaining its regal presence that was seemingly lost due to this minor setback. Visitors now must follow strict guidelines before even stepping foot on to the island.
Unlike the past, the number of tourists allowed to visit the island at any given time has been severely limited to around 19,000 people. Along with that, only 6,405 tourists are allowed to enter Boracay daily.
To that end, tourists may also be required to provide some form of proof of stay before they may be permitted to enter the island. Likewise, the number of activities held on the island these days have also dwindled significantly, which is a stark contrast to the island’s vibrant nightlife of yesteryear.
But while these pseudo-draconian measures may put a damper on some people, that still doesn’t make the island any less of an attractive beach destination. Boracay is definitely still a heavenly destination for rest and relaxation. Moreover, it obviously also exudes an irresistible allure for island paradise seekers.
How To Get To Boracay
While there’re no direct flights into Boracay, you may instead opt to fly to a nearby destination in either Caticlan (the closest airport) or Kalibo before taking a short ferry ride to reach the island.